The International Air Transport Association (IATA – the global representative body for the airline industry) and the intergovernmental International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have announced they are deepening their cooperation regarding sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This development was announced at the ICAO Aviation Climate Week on Tuesday and was focused on increasing transparency in, and the integrity of, SAF development and deployment progress tracking.

“Credible tracking is necessary to know the emissions reductions delivered by SAF,” pointed out IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “The data collected by the CADO [Civil Aviation Decarbonisation Organisation] SAF Registry, among others, has the potential to meet this need. By working with ICAO to strengthen how progress on SAF use is measured and reported, we can accelerate deployment, build trust across stakeholders, and put aviation on track for net zero by 2050. This will set a great example for individual States to work with industry to make the most of the SAF data that is being accumulated.”

The aim is to establish close collaboration between the global airline industry and the world’s States, that will be supported by strong systems and high-quality data, and which will allow credible and transparent tracking of cleaner aviation energies and their contribution to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving net zero is an ambition and a commitment of both IATA and ICAO.

Both IATA and ICAO will investigate how SAF registries, and the data they collect, csn be used to enable the implementation of ICAO’s Long-Term Aspirational Goal Monitoring and Reporting methodology. They will also consider fuel accounting systems for international aviation.

“Achieving ICAO’s vision of net zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050 will require unprecedented levels of transparency and cooperation across the entire sector,” highlighted ICAO secretary general Juan Carlos Salazar. “This agreement will support the strengthening of ICAO’s leadership as we support States and industry in their scaling up of [SAF] and other aviation cleaner energies. By improving our global monitoring capabilities and visibility into SAF production, distribution and use, we can support the integrity of global fuel accounting systems and ensure that climate investments are recognised consistently and transparently under ICAO frameworks.”